TRIBUTES have poured in for a young man killed when his car swerved off a rural road and hit a tree yesterday.

The 22-year-old has been named locally as Joe Fairhurst from Abingdon.

Mr Fairhurst died at the scene of the crash on Abingdon Road between Culham and Clifton Hampden just after midnight.

Messages left for him on Facebook described him as “one of the nicest guys you will ever meet.”

Bethanie Evans posted: “Just heard the horrible news, you were such a nice guy, which shows from all the lovely messages.”

Trish Deacon wrote: “Seriously can’t believe this has happened. Way too young to be taken away.”

Another comment read: “You were always so happy and never failed to make people laugh.”

Mr Fairhurst was a footballer and former John Mason School pupil.

He was secretary of Black Swan football team in Abingdon, which plays in the Upper Thames Valley league.

His blue Ford Fiesta, travelling from the Abingdon direction towards Clifton Hampden village, mounted the grass verge on the left side of the road about 20 metres before it swerved onto the opposite side of the road and hit the tree.

The road was closed for most of the night.

A couple spoke of their shock as the vehicle crashed into their front garden. Ewan Jones, 28, and Clara Prieto, 23, called 999 when they heard a noise.

Mr Jones said: “There was a bang and then a roar of an engine which woke us up – we were half asleep.

“I couldn’t sleep for the rest of the night – I was just going over what might have happened in my head.

“It was such a shock. There are quite a few small crashes on the road but not many serious ones.

“I don’t understand how it could have happened but they might have been swerving to stop hitting an animal or anything – we have a lot of deer and badgers around here.”

On July 18 last year, 52-year-old lorry driver Michael Stringer, from Buckinghamshire, died on the same stretch of road.

His lorry collided with another 800 metres away from where Mr Fairhurst died.

Police are appealing for anyone who saw the incident to call 101.

A CYCLIST found with severe head injuries has died.

The 53-year-old was discovered lying unconscious in Brumcombe Lane, near Bayworth, on Monday morning and died at Oxford’s John Radcliffe hospital on Tuesday, police said.

It is believed he had been cycling downhill from Boars Hill towards Bayworth.

Did you know the cyclist?

If you would like to leave a tribute please contact mark.taylor@oxfordmail.co.uk or call 01865 425411.